South Korean National Assembly Speaker Urges Constitutional Amendment Amidst Political Debate

Overview of the Constitutional Amendment Debate

The central theme revolves around South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker, Woo Won-shik, advocating for a constitutional amendment to coincide with the upcoming presidential election. This proposal has sparked debate among political leaders, particularly concerning its timing and necessity amidst other pressing issues.

Speaker Woo’s Stance

Speaker Woo Won-shik has repeatedly proposed holding a referendum on constitutional amendments during the presidential election. He emphasizes the agreement from both the Democratic Party (더불어민주당) and the People Power Party (국민의힘) leadership regarding a simultaneous vote. He views this as an opportunity to initiate constitutional reforms and urges swift action on amending the National Referendum Act (국민투표법).

Lee Jae-myung’s Counter-Argument

In contrast, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, has expressed reservations. While acknowledging the need for constitutional amendments, he prioritizes addressing what he refers to as an ongoing threat to democracy, described as a “suppression of democracy.” He suggests that safeguarding democratic principles takes precedence over constitutional reforms at this moment.

Positive Reception from the People Power Party

On the other hand, Kwon Young-se, the interim leader of the People Power Party, supports the idea of holding a referendum on constitutional amendments during the presidential election. He aims to prepare a constitutional amendment that accurately reflects public sentiment and submit it for a national vote concurrently with the presidential election.

Detailed Summary of the Article

Speaker Woo Won-shik has reiterated his proposal to pursue constitutional amendments during the upcoming presidential election, citing the agreement of both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party leadership. Despite Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung’s reservations, Speaker Woo emphasizes the potential for discussing specific aspects, such as including the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising (5·18 정신, a pro-democracy movement in Gwangju) in the constitution’s preamble and strengthening the requirements for declaring martial law (계엄 요건 강화). Speaker Woo released a statement welcoming the agreement from both parties’ leadership, urging progress on amending the National Referendum Act to facilitate the constitutional amendment process. Lee Jae-myung, however, prioritized preventing the destruction of democracy over constitutional amendments, while Kwon Young-se expressed support for holding a referendum on constitutional amendments during the presidential election to reflect public sentiment accurately.